Getting ready to start new 30x30 garage

[spotco2]

So I got a check for my previous building that had tree's fall through it during a storm last month. I'm going to put a little more with it and build a 30x30 enclosed pole barn with a floating concrete slab and 12" overhang all the way around. I will probably put a lean to on the back to store the tractor and some other stuff under.

This is going to be more for storage for 1 vehicle and a bunch of general "stuff". I am not going to run power to it yet, but will eventually.

I am planning on having 2 overhead doors on the front, a walk through somewhere and a window or two on each side for cross ventilation.

The problem I am having is figuring out where to put the doors. Obviously he overhead doors will be on the front. I thought about putting the walk through on the front also, but part of my says to put it on the side in the front corner and just have the overhead doors on front.

The good part about having the overhead doors spaced evenly across the front and the walk through on the side would be I would have more room on the sides of the vehicles. The bad part about having the walk through on the side would be the loss of wall space for benches, cabinets or shelves on part of the side wall.

The good part about having all 3 doors on the front is I could use the entire side walls as storage areas, but vehicles parked inside would be closer together and closer to one side wall.

Where the heck is the best place to put these doors and what size overhead doors do I want? I was thinking about 10x8 doors.

The walls are going to be 10' tall. The largest things I can imagine going through the doors would normally be a E350, possibly a car or truck on my car trailer or maybe me driving my 1949 Ford 8N tractor inside the building.

I'm just trying to figure out the best layout for storage and trying to avoid having builders remorse wishing I had put in different doors or put them in a different place down the road.

Pics, pro's and con's would be great.

Also, do I need to Tyvek wrap this thing? I have no real plans for insulating at this point but never know what's going to happen down the road.

 

[38Chevy454]

I have the two large garage doors on front and man-door on the side. You don't lose more than 3 ft realistically for the door, and I have shelves above the door to maximize that space. If you can do it, making the garage a bit wider than 30 will give you ability to have 3 vehicle wide inside with room for bench along the side. 30 deep is good, wish I had more than my 26, but limited by setbacks.

Even if no plans for electric, at least put in tubing for the electric to come up through the slab. Or you can go up the side with conduit, but inside is a bit cleaner. I would use tyvek wrap and insulate. Both help make it better, and more temp stable winter and summer.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Where ever you place the man door, it's going to be wasted wall space once you figure in a fully open swing door. Try to place it near a corner or by an area that won't be used as much.. . like trashcan placement.

 

[Icky1911]

I put my entry door on the front of my garage. This allows me to view the garage door and entry door from the back of my house. (door is not out of sight) Also, consider glass block windows with vents. The glass block lets in enough light but also prevents people from looking in and breaking in..I would also prep it for electric even if you arent planning on it right away. Also, I would tyvek wrap it. Better to have these things done and not need them now than want to do them (electric and insulate) and have issues down the road. Garages can be tough things to plan out because you always find something you wished you would have done and didnt do when you had the chance easily! Good Luck!

 

[derbyparty]

I am building one about this size now. I used 30' trusses on 4' centers and went 32x30. cost of the extra 2 foot was not much at all. i have 12' ceilings with two 10x10 overhead doors. I just happened to have two steel man doors that I had picked up cheap so I put one between the two overheads and one one the back side corner closest to the house.

 

[Choptopjimmy]

I will be adding a 30x30x14' addition to my 30x40x10 existing polebarn this summer. Just trying to add a place to store my projects and install a 2 post lift. I will start a build thread when we break ground. Good luck with your project. Jim

 

[GAR64]

To minimize the space you lose inside, you can use a door that swings out... like on a commercial building.